It marks a U-turn by Mr Gove, who earlier this year said he was considering a ban on foie gras as part of a wider package of reforms to tighten animal welfare rules after we leave the EU.

EU single market rules currently prevents Britain from banning practices such as the export of live animals for slaughter.

Foie gras is controversial because it is made from the livers of force-fed geese and ducks.

But Mr Gove told the Commons Environmental Audit committee: “It may be the case that the French government on behalf of its farmers that any free trade agreement between Britain and the EU that imposed restrictions on foie gras would be one which it could live with.”